Only God Our father ALLOWS things as you reminded it so rightfully Pamela (Philippians 2 :13) .
I agree with you Stephan, it’s painfull but less painfull when you know « that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose » (Romans 8 :28).
God’s thoughts are not our thoughts and I think that’s the most Paramount part of the judgement : accept that what we desire, even unconsciously, doesn’t correspond to what God desires. Never.
Why is it fisrt the elects that are being judged rather than everyone altogether ? Because God’s House has been taught the Truth first, by the great power of His Spirit, throught Jesus Christ, so that it can be a testimony for the world to see, people around us, family, neighbours, people we cross in the street, we come throught shamefull moments, hard times which people around us can assist to, whistling, feeling ashamed for us, or sad maybe. But they ALSO see us HAPPY, CONFIDENT. It’s only at these moments that the Glory of God is revealed. That’s why, don’t be ashamed or sad of being judged, which is being a human that’s becoming a child of God in all His holiness, it’s hard but let it be known throught joy and faith for the future of your neighbour, your daughter and son, your colleague... for it will help them to change and access to repentance in a more easier way later.
Our minister : being a real shame in the eyes of the world for later they will remember we trusted in Our God to save us from these tricky circumstances and it will help them to change completely and accept their heart to be replaced by God LATER.
We don’t want people to suffer, to be ill, to die, for God doesn’t want it FIRSTLY. We want them to live in Christ the way we are living now.
Being changed, the process of having a new heart and spirit (Ezekiel 11 :19-20), is the only way for us to serve God’s marvellous plan : people sees, and feels, and remembers. Let’s not hide our suffering. BUT what would really weigh in the balance is JOY. What is important for our testimony is to rejoice in our sufferings, and not fearing anything, and thank only GOD for EVERYTHING, that is FAITH.
That’s the only way for people to learn : JOY in our sufferings. Pain is not enough. Rejoicing, which is faith, while suffering is the key. But we don’t have to pretend, we only have to count on God’s word, meditating on it, remember it at all times, knowing now the Truth of HIS WORD. Matthew 6 : 16 : « When you fast, do not look somber ».
God sends us to people according to His perfect plan, we meet them because God wills us to meet them, so later they will remember. That’s why it’s so important to be attached to Christ, so we can act and talk exactly the way God
wants us to,
like Jesus who tells us in John 12 :49 « For I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded to say all that I have Spoken ».
Anyway, accept yourself, even with flaws of your own, we all have flaws, we all are ashamed of so many things about us when we face God’s Holiness.
But God has already forgiven us throught Jesus' sacrifice on the cross IF we follow His most important commandment which is LOVE.
Accept yourselves. Accept it when you try to be better in the eyes of our Father but you can't succeed, try later, try hard.
God is WORKING on us, and throught us He is working on people around us. We are His INSTRUMENT for His Glory. We are the horns, we are the lyres, God plays His own marvellous symphony throught us.
We already know His Glory, let the world hear and learn about it, according to the schedule and circumstances God has decided throught our lives in Christ.
We don’t run the ship, God does, throught Christ in us. God be GLORIFIED, in absolutly every circumstances.